Improvement in machines for forming sheet-metal ware



m. Von cuLm'eL 1. De BUTT;

Machines for Forming Sheet-Metal Ware.

Patented Jan. 27, 1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrton MATTHEW VON OULIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND JOHN DE BUTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EWALD RIEDEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPRO VE MENT IN MACHINES FOR FORMING SHEET-METAL WARE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,966, dated January 27, 1874; application filed October 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MATTHEW VoN Court, of the city of Baltimore, county of Baltimore, State of Maryland, and J OHN DE BUTT, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Press for Forming Objects of Sheet Metal, of which the following is a specification:

The object of our invention is to simplify and reduce the cost of power-presses for forming objects of sheet metal, and we attain this object by constructing the press in the manner shown in the front elevation, Figure 1, and sectional elevation, Fig. 2, on the line 1 2, Fig. 1, of the accompanying drawing, the main peculiarities of the said press being the construction and arrangement of the parts for the guidance and operation of the blank-holder B and punch D above the die A.

The frame E of the press is supported upon legs a, and in suitable bearings in the upper portion of the said frame turns the drivingshaft F, on which are two precisely-similar cams, b b, and an intermediate eccentric, d.

The blank-holder B is secured to, or forms part of, a cross-head, G, which is suspended by four threaded bolts, 0, from an upper crosshead, H, both of the said cross-heads being guided by, and arranged to slide upon, vertical rods f f of the frame. (See Fig. 1, and sectional plan, Fig. 3, on the line 3 4, Fig. 1.) A vertically-adjustable arm, g, is secured to the upper end of each of the bolts 0 and rods 71, upon which are'woimd spiral springs i extending downward from these arms through openings in the base-plate j of the frame. The springs 'i are of suflieient strength to sustain the whole weight of the two cross-heads and blank-holder, and to constantly maintain anti-friction rollers, k, hung to projections I of the upper crosshead, against the operating-cams b b.

The punch D is secured to the lower end of a rod, m, and has a direct and positive ascendin g and descending movement imparted to it by the eccentric (I, through the medium of a yoke, J, secured to the upper end of the said rod m. The punch is, in the present instance, cylindrical, and is adapted to an opening of corresponding size and shape in the die A. It is guided partly by a sleeve, 10, which fits snugly, but so as to slide freely, in the upper cross-head H, and partly by rods q of the yoke, which extend through openings in the top of the frame. (See Fig. 2.)

The operation of the press is as follows: When the blank-holder and punch are raised, a disk or blank of sheet metal is placed upon the die A directly over its central opening. The blank-holder first descends and clamps the disk to the top of the die, and is followed by the punch, which forces the blank into the said die, the pressure of the blank-holder upon the edges of the disk being sufiicient to prevent it from wrinkling or puckering, but not too great to prevent the disk from being drawn from beneath the said blank -ho1der, if the stamped object, such as a blacking-box or .lid, for instance, has to be forced entirely through the die, and dropped into a receptacle beneath.

After forming the blank the punch rises first, and is followed by the blank -holder, which is forced upward by the action of the springs i as soon as the cams b b have been turned to a position to permit such movement.

If the pressed object is of such a shape that it cannot be forced through the die, it may be lifted from the latter after the raising of the punch and blank-holder.

The power of the springs i maybe increased or diminished, as required, by an adjustment of the arms g on the bolts 0, and the blankholder may also be adjusted to a nicety, in re spect to the die, by properly arranging the lower cross-head G on the same bolts 0.

By combining and arranging the operating parts of the press above the die, in the manner described, we are enabled not only to dis pense with the usual cumbersome counterbalances, but to obtain direct and positive movements, and to simplify and very materially reduce the cost of the press.

We claim as our invention-=- 1. The combination of the blank-holder B,

the connected cross-heads G- andI-I, and the In testimony whereof we have signed our guiding-rods ff of the frame, upon which the names to tlns specificatlon 1n the presence of said cross-heads are arranged to slide, as set two subseribmg Witnesses.

forth. MATTHEW VON CULIN.

2. The screw-bolts 6, carried by the cross- JOHN DE BUTT.

head H, and connected to and serving to ad- Vitnesses:

just both the crosshead G and springrods 71-, \VM. A. STEEL,

all as set forth. HARRY SMITH. 

